Product Engineer (Plastic and Collectibles)

As a Product Engineer (Plastic and Collectibles), you will oversee the end-to-end design process for blind box toys and other collectible products, ensuring they meet aesthetic, functional, and production requirements. Your role will involve close coordination with factory teams to translate creative concepts into scalable products. You will work with merchandisers and designers to refine ideas, anticipate technical issues (e.g., mold complexity for varied series pieces), and explain constraints in accessible terms to non-technical teams. This position is critical to delivering engaging, safe, and cost-effective collectibles that resonate with our audience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of blind box toys and collectibles, transform concepts to prototypes, ensuring alignment with design concept & clients/market trends.
• Collaborate with factory technicians to optimize injection molding and assembly processes for small-scale, detailed plastic components.
• Partner with merchandisers and designers to incorporate feedback on themes, rarity variations, and packaging, balancing creativity with production feasibility.
• Identify and mitigate technical challenges early, such as material limitations, structural integrity for miniaturized parts, or color consistency across series, and communicate solutions clearly (e.g., “This design requires a two-part mold to avoid undercuts, impacting cost”).
• Ensure compliance with global toy safety standards (e.g., EN71, ASTM F963) and prioritize sustainable, child-safe materials.
• Conduct feasibility studies and provide technical input during concept reviews to streamline production.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Polymer Engineering, or a related field. Certifications in plastic injection molding or product design are a plus.

• Experience: Minimum of 3 years in product design or engineering, ideally in plastic collectibles, blind box toys, or consumer goods with a focus on plastics.

• Technical Skills:

  • Deep knowledge of plastic materials (e.g., ABS, PVC, PP) and manufacturing processes like injection molding and blow molding for small, detailed components.
  • Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino, AutoCAD) and prototyping tools (e.g., 3D printing).
  • Familiarity with mold design, material selection, and quality control for high-volume production.

• Communication: Exceptional ability to explain complex technical concepts (e.g., mold flow issues or part warpage) to non-technical stakeholders, including merchandisers and designers.

• Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying and resolving issues like design scalability, cost optimization, or safety compliance for collectibles.

• Market Knowledge: Understanding of the blind box and collectibles market, particularly in Asia, with insight into consumer preferences and trends.